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Guerrero named AL Player of the Week

Guerrero named AL Player of the Week

Vladimir Guerrero has shown once again why he is one of the best players in baseball.

During the past week, Guerrero helped lead the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim back into first place in AL West.

Guerrero led the American League last week in six different offensive categories and for his efforts was named the Bank of America Presents the American League Player of the Week on Monday. It's the second time in his career he has won the AL weekly award, the first coming on Oct. 3, 2004, and he's now won a weekly award every year since 1998. The Angels right fielder led the AL in home runs (5), RBIs (13), runs scored (9), slugging percentage (1.182), on-base percentage (.593) and total bases (26) over six games last week.

"This is why he's incredible with the exception of last month," manager Mike Scioscia said, referring to July, when Guerrero hit .208 but had five homers and 21 RBIs. "He's the type of player that we're not only privileged to have on our team, but to have in baseball."

Last Saturday in Seattle, Guerrero blasted two home runs -- a 431-foot shot and the other a 434-foot blast -- and helped lead the Angels past the Mariners, 9-4, to re-take first place. It was the 25th multi-home run game of his career. He was 8-for-14 (.571) with seven RBIs and six runs scored in the series against the Mariners.

"Those were some of the farthest I've seen at this field (Safeco)," Scioscia said. "I've seen some long home runs, but those have to be about the farthest."

Guerrero batted 11-for-22 (.500) last week and last Tuesday off A's starter Rich Harden he hit his third career grand slam in a 9-2 win.